Jouncing foot toy



Feb. 19", 1963 N. T. MILLS JOUNCINGYFOOT TOY Filed Feb. 17, 1961 l HW,

rates United rihis invention relates to a jouncing foot toy, and has for an object to provide a simple and eiective toy of this type which will, in effect, give a child the same or better ride as if he were jouncing on the foot of an adult with one leg crossed over the other.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is easily mounted without assistance even by very young children, and is so constructed that it has very good stability and affords maximum safety against children falling from it or otherwise being injured in using it.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, l have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

ln this drawing:

PEG. l is a perspective view indicating how the device may be used;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation;

FlG. 3 is a rear View with a part broken away to more clearly show the construction;

FIG. 4 is a detail section substantially on line 4--4 of HG. 3 on a larger scale;

HG. 5 is a partial section and partial elevation, the section being substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, on a larer scale;

FlG. 6 is a detail section substantially on line 6 6 of FiG. 2, on a larger scale;

FlG. 7 is a detail section substantially on line '7--7 or" FIG. 3, on a larger scale, and

HG. 8 is a transverse section substantially on line 8-3 of FIG. 2.

The device comprises a supporting frame itl of very simple construction, which provides not only the required strength, but stability which prevents its easily tipping over when in use. The structure as shown comprises a base ll to rest on a suitable support, and comprises a tubular member, preferably bent to a substantially circular or of somewhat oval shape, but it could be of other shapes capable of giving the desired support, if desired. Extending upwardly from opposite sides of this base member is a pair ol' side braces l2 which may also be tubular members, secured to the base member ill by any suitable means. ln the structure shown they have a forked lower end i3 sented over the tubular member il and secured thereto by a transverse bolt 1d which provides a detachable hinge connection. These side braces are inclined upwardly and backwardly from the center line l5 of the base ll, as shown in FlG. 2, for a purpose later to be described. The supporting frame also includes a third back brace ld secured to the rear of the base il at E37 with the same kind of connection as used at the lower ends oi the side braces l2. The upper end portions of the side braces are bent horizontally inwardly, as indicated at i3, and are threaded at their free ends into the opposite sides of the T-litting l@ as indicated at 2?. The upper end portion of the rear brace lo is bent forwardly, as indicated at 2l, and threaded into the lateral extension or" the T-htting, as indicated at Z2. This structure provides a strong, rigid construction for supporting the leg member 23.

This leg member may be made from any suitable material, of either solid or hollow construction, but by way 3,978,692 Patented Fein. 19, 1953 ice of example is shown as formed from a block of wood 2d covered with any suitable material 25, such, for example, as leather or any suitable fabric to give it an attractive appearance and also provide a surface which would be comfortable to the rider. This leg is hinged to the top of the frame by a very simple and effective means which holds it rigidly in the proper position but permits free swinging forward and backward movement to give the child the proper simulated ride. However, as can best be seen in FIG. 2, forward swinging movement of the leg is limited by the inter-engagement of an undesignated rearwardly extending portion of the upper end of the leg member 23 and the extension of the T-iitting 19 that receives the curved upper end of the rear brace 16. ln the structure shown, a at strap 26 is bent to a central loop 2'7 to wrap around the upper end portions 18 of the side braces with the free ends of the strap overlapped as shown at 2S, and secured to the central structure of the leg 23 by suitable screws 29, one of these hinge menibers being used at each of the opposite sides of the T- fitting 19. This simple construction provides a very rigid hinge mounting for the leg member on the frame, which permits free up and down swinging movements and by cooperation with the opposite ends of the horizontal portion of the T-tting retains it properly in the center position on the frame, and the two hinge portions are sufciently spaced laterally to provide a rigid lateral support for the leg member. At its lower end it is provided with a foot portion 3? preferably in the form of a bootcovered foot of an adult, providing a saddle 31 on which the rider may be seated.

Secured to the rear side of the leg portion 23 ista suitable bracket 32. In the form shown it is formed from a flat strip of metal bent to an intermediate loop 33 and laterally extending end portions 34 secured to the leg member by suitable screws 35. The loop 33 is thus located a suitable distance backwardly from the leg portion, and provides means for securing this leg portion to suitable coil springs 36 which are also secured to the side braces l2 of the frame. A simple and effective means for securing the spring to the bracket 3?. is by wire rings 37 looped through holes 33 in the bracket with the inner ends of the springs hooked into these rings, as indicated at 39. Similar hooks itl may be provided in the outer ends of the springs and hooked into suitable openings di in the side braces l2 of the supporting frame. These openings are preferably spaced from each other longitudinally of the braces so that a plurality of springs may be used with proper spacing for freedom of movement between them, as indicated in FIG. 3, and lif desired additional openings 42 may 'be provided spaced4 further than the openings di, so that either the springs 36 may be hooked into them to provide greater tension for use of the device by a heavier child, or additional springs may be provided connecting the brace 32 with these openings for the same purpose.

Hand grips i3 may be provided in the leg portion 23 at a suitable height above the saddle 3l for the rider to grip to help him to retain his position in the saddle. These grips may be provided by an suitable means, a simple and effective one being a plain rod passed transversely through the leg portion 23, as indicated. There may also be provided a connecting brace or member de extending transversely between the side braces .t2 adjacent their lower ends and secured thereby to any suitable means, such, for example, as welding them to the side braces, as indicated at 45 in FIG. 3. lt provides a foot brace or rest for the rider, as indicated in FIG. l. This provides means on which the rider may press with his feet to initiate and maintain his swinging movement. The springs should be of suitable size and strength to give the proper swinging movement to the leg and saddle, and also to maintain sufiiciently `close convolutions to prevent the child catching his iingers in them. Connecting the spring to the outer openings 42, or providing extra springs connected to these openings, might be desirable in adapting the device for use by a heavy child.

The transverse brace 44 forms a foot rest which is preferably backwardly and concavely curved somewhat, to give a child riding the toy not only a foot rest, but some-` thing to push against with his feet to maintain the back ward and forward swing movement similar to the natural swinging of a persons foot with his legs crossed. The backwardly inclined position of the side braces 12 from the vertical `center line 15, as-shown in FIG. 2, allows the foot to be held out further and also provides greater stability and permits a longer swing without danger of tipping the device over. Asthe angular position of the foot and leg is determined solely by the springs, they are brought to an intermediate position ofrest when the weight is removed from the saddle, but are free-to move in opposite directions against action of lthesprings as movement from this intermediate position of rest in either direction will tension the springs. This backward in` clinedposition of the side braces 12, and also the curved upper end 21 ofthe rear brace 16, spaces this rear brace backwardly from the pivoted leg, permitting a greater swinging movement without danger of the rider lbecoming pinched betweenthe leg and the rear brace.

It will be seen from the above that this'vcryclosely simulates the swinging movement or jouncing action of an adults leg crossed one over the'other, but provides a further swinging movement and a comfortable saddle seat for the rider. By disconnecting the connections at the lower ends 13 and 17 ofthe side and back braces from the lower or base member, the device may be partly disfV assembled for carryingpurposes, and this may be fur-` ther etectedbyunscrewing the rear braceil from the T-tting 19.

Having thus set forth ,the nature of my invention, `I claim:

1. A jouncing foot toy comprising a frame including a generally open horizontal base and a Ypair of elongated spaced coplanar side braces secured at their lower ends to said base and extending upwardly fromthe opposite sides thereof, a third elongated rear brace secured at its lower end to saidbase between and to the rear of said side braces and extending upwardy from the rear side of the base, means connecting the upper ends of the three braces, a support in the general form of a human leg and foot pivoted to lthe upper` ends of said side braces to incline downwardly and forwardly therefrom and provided with a seat at the top ofthe foot, a plurality of springs connecting the. leg with the side braces, said springs and said braces being coplanar, andhand grips on the leg above said seat.

2. A jouncing foot toy according to claim 1 in which there is a cross member extending between and connected to the side braces near said base providing a foot rest for a rider seated on the seat.

3. A jouncing foot toy according to claim l in which the lower ends of the side and rear braces are detachably connected to the base member for partial disassembly of the toy for transportation and storage.

4. A jouncing foot toy comprising a frame including a generally open horizontal base and a pair of elongated spaced coplanar side braces secured at their lower ends to said base and extending upwardly from the opposite sides thereof, a third elongated rear brace secured at its lower end to said base between and to the rear of said side braces and extending upwardly from the rear side of the base, the upper end portions of the side braces extending horizontally towardy each other, a T-itting having side portions secured to the upper free ends of the side braces and a rearwardly extending portion secured to the upper end of the rear brace, a support in the general form of a human leg and foot providing a saddle seat, pivot means comprising loops embracing the upper horizontal portions of the side braces on the opposite sides of the T-tting pivotally mounting said support on said braces for back andforthv swinging movement, a rearwardly extending portion formed at the top of said support arranged to contact said rearwardly extending portion of said T-iitting and limit forward swinging of said support, and spring means connecting the support to `the side braces at a position spaced belowsaid pivot means and tending to shift the support to an intermediate position.

5.` A jouncing foot toy comprising a frame including a generally open horizontal base and a pair of elongated spaced coplanar side braces secured at their lower ends to said baseand' extending upwardly from the .opposite sides thereof, a .thirdvelongatedzrear brace secured at'its` lower end to said base between and to the rear of said side braces and extending upwardly from the rear side `of the brace and having its upper end forwardly curved, means connecting the upper ends of the three braces, said side braces being inclined backwardly from the vertical center line of thebase, a support in the general form of a human leg and foot providing a saddle seat at the top of the foot, means pivotally mounting the support at its upper end to the upper end portions of the sideibraces with the support inclined downwardly and forwardly, springs connecting the support at a point below the pivotal mounting means to the side braces, a rearwardly curved bar extending horizontally between and connecting the side braces above the base providing a foot rest for a rider in the saddle seat, and hand grips on the support spaced above the foot portion.

6. A jouncing foot toy comprising a frame including a generally open horizontal base and a pair of elongated spaced coplanar side braces secured at their lower ends to said base and extending upwardly from the opposite sides thereof, a third elongated rear brace secured at its lower end to said base between and to the rear of said side braces and extending upwardly from the rear side of the base, means connecting the upper ends of the three braces, a support in the general form of a human leg and foot pivoted to the upper ends of said side braces to incline downwardly and forwardly therefrom and provided with a seat at the top of the foot, a bracket secured to and extending rearwardly from the support, a plurality of coiled springs connected to the bracket at one end and at their other ends to the side braces at vertically spaced points on said braces, said springs and said braces being coplanar, and means whereby the springs may be connected to the braces at points spaced above and below said rst points of connections to the braces.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A JOUNCING FOOT TOY COMPRISING A FRAME INCLUDING A GENERALLY OPEN HORIZONTAL BASE AND A PAIR OF ELONGATED SPACED COPLANAR SIDE BRACES SECURED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, A THIRD ELONGATED REAR BRACE SECURED AT ITS LOWER END TO SAID BASE BETWEEN AND TO THE REAR OF SAID SIDE BRACES AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE REAR SIDE OF THE BASE, MEANS CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF THE THREE BRACES, A SUPPORT IN THE GENERAL FORM OF A HUMAN LEG AND FOOT PIVOTED TO THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SIDE BRACES TO INCLINE DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY THEREFROM AND PROVIDED WITH A SEAT AT THE TOP OF THE FOOT, A PLURALITY OF SPRINGS CONNECTING THE LEG WITH THE SIDE BRACES, SAID SPRINGS AND SAID BRACES BEING COPLANAR, AND HAND GRIPS ON THE LEG ABOVE SAID SEAT. 